November 28
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CAUTION TO THE RICH
A poem by ILMA
Listen carefully, all you who are rich: weep with anguish for what’s coming at you
There will be terrible troubles and suffering ahead of all those who are rich and famous
Your wealth will not last long, they will rot away and your clothes are like rags
Your gold and silver are corroded and that wealth will eat away your flesh like fire.
Those of you who are hoarders will face the day of judgment
Hoarding is clinging on to material possessions which you can’t bring anyway
You are born in this world without anything but naked
You will also return to the place you belong in the same way.
Hear the cries of those whom you have cheated so you can gain more
You have spent your years here on earth in luxury and convenience
You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter
You have fully satisfied yourselves instead of looking after other.
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MEMORY VERSE
Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you – James 5:1
Read: James 5:1-6
This letter of James gives a very harsh warning to the rich people. Like the man in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, we see how greedy that man was storing up so much riches for himself instead of gaining riches in heaven. He had no idea that one day, all these things he stored up for himself will be gone for he doesn’t know when his life will be taken away from him.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the rich are cautioned vehemently here by James?
• Do you think that all rich people are not going to enter God’s kingdom?
• How can you be wealthy and yet enter the kingdom of God?
• Why is it very hard for the rich to really be true disciples? What stops them from being a true follower of God?
Tag Archives: James 5:1
WARNING TO THE RICH Poem Devotional
December 18________________________________________
Look here, you rich people. Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. – James 5:1 (NLT)
WARNING TO THE RICH
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you ever envy those who are rich and wealthy?
Material things don’t last long and are temporary
Rejoice when you don’t possess a lot and are poor
Christ came for you so he can cleanse you to be pure.
The rich will have troubles and difficulties
Their wealth will bring many forms of idolatry
Unless they use their wealth for God’s glory
They will have a hard time being saved by the Almighty.
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In our world today, the rich are put on a pedestal by many because of their wealth. They dictate much of the world’s concern and issues because they are looked up to as symbols of ¬¬¬¬power and might. The poor on the other hand become desperate and desolate because of the inability to have their needs met.
The bible warns the rich. They are in for trouble. They will weep and groan with anguish because of their wealth. If you are someone who possess so much wealth and power on earth, it will be very hard for you to be saved. Hebrews 13:5 tells us to keep yourself free from love of money. The rich became rich because they value their money and wealth so much. They forget to serve the Lord who gave them all.
PRAYER
Lord, help me never to aim to be rich but to become more like you.
REFLECTION
How can the rich enter God’s kingdom?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com